Originally a small temple town, the South Keralan town of Varkala is fast turning into a favourite backpacker hangout. And I would attribute this to what is called ‘the Varkala Formation’ – a steep red cliff rising adjacent to a small strip of beach having excellent views of the Arabian sea from the cliff-top. Nowhere on the western coast does Kerala have a cliff overlooking the sea, as Kerala has a relatively flat coast unlike its counterparts. With this kind of a unique setting, it’s hard to imagine it not gaining more popularity in the coming days.